Tot baseball game



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,428

M. J, LowRY TOY BASEBALL GAME Filed Nov. 25, 1926 15gg. i

Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

' UNITED STATES MICHAEL J'. LOWRY, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TOY BASEBALL GAME.

Application led November 23, 1926.

The present invention relates to game apparatus and has for its principal object the provision of an improved apparatus for simulating the game of base ball and which is more particularly adapted for use as an indoor or house game. i

4The invention contemplates the provision of a mechanical pitcher capable ofi convenient manual manipulation for delivering the ball in the direction of a batter and to provide a mechanical batter for manual manipulation to bat the ball delivered by the pitcher.

Likewise, there is a device for intercepting the ball delivered by the pitcher when the batter fails to strike the ball, whereby a strike indicia. is automatically exhibited.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 ot' Fig. 1, illustrating the connection means for the sections of the board;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, illustrating kthe supporting means for a ball intercepting device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view ofthe pitcher and pitching apparatus; Y'

Figs. 5 and 6 are side and rear detail views of the same;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail, front, side and rearviewsof the batter illustrating the batting apparatus;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the ball intercepting device; v

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the same-with the strike indicium displayed;

Fig. 12 is a perspective viewl of a baseman, illustrating the supporting medium ot the same.

Like charac-ters ot reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures ot the drawings.

The apparatus includes a playing field or board, which is preferably formed in two sections 12 and 13, connected together by the upper and lower plates 14 and 15, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The board may be covered with some suitable material, such as billiard cloth, and a miniature diamond is marked off on the cloth with the bases defined as in the ordinary ball tield.

Mounted on the board adjacent the home plate, rearward of the home plate and at the Serial No. 150,238.

pitchers box. are keepers designated at a, and c, respectively, each of which embodies a metallic lstrip the end portions of which are secured to the board by rivets, or other suitable tastenings, and the intermediate poi'- tions CZ of whichY extend parallel with the board in spaced relation thereto to toi-1n slots c, as shown in F ig. 3.

At the rear of the home plate there is located a ball intcrcepting device suitably illaminated, as illustrated in F ig. 11 andthe same comprises a rectangular sheet oi' material 16, on which is printed or otheiwise illustrated, the simulation of a player in the crouched position for catching a pitched ball. This device while depicting a catcher functions as an umpire to indicate balls and strikes according to the manner in which a ball is delivered relatively to the home plate.

The metal at central part of the plate 16 is stamped out to provide transverse opening and resultant of the stampingoperation to provide the opening, an oblong piece of metal 17 is formed and the said metallic piece is connected to the metal sheet 16 by a. hinge 18 and provides a .closure for the said opening adapted to open rearwardly ot the metal sheet. The lower end of the plate Y16 lis formed with a tongue 18 which is insertable under the keeper to lixedly yet removably attach the plate 16 to the board.

A pitcher 19 is stamped out of sheet metal and has its lower end connected `to the horizontal extension Q0 of an angle' plate 21, the vertical extension 22 of which has connected thereto a stud 23, on. which is rotatably mounted an arm 24C, adapted to be normally held in upright position by means of va spring element 25, the major portion ot which is coiled around the stud 23. Thelower end of the spring 25h; connected to a lip 2G upstruck from the horizontal part 2O of the angle plate 21, while the upper end is bent over to torni a hook 27. which en 0ages over the inf S3 `Y,

ner longitudinal edge `of the arm 24.

The upper end ot' arm 21 has secured thereto in any appropriate manner, a wire pocket 28 and a cord 29 is connected to the arm adjacent its upper end. By placing a ball, such as an ordinary marble in the pocket 28 and pulling rearwardly on the cord 29, the spring 25 is tensioned on the stud, and upon release of the cord, the pitching arm Q4 will be manipulated to deliver the ball to the batter.V

10iIr and whereby the body portion of thepitchci'n is held stationary. i t y The batter' 30 is supported in upright posrtion by an angle plate 3l oit identically the same construction as the supporting* plate QT for the pitcher and a similar stud32-,profectsl outwardly from the vertical erte'n'si'on o't'the plate andhas coiled thereona spring` 33,1the loyver end olifwhiclijis V'connected to aplip on ltheAlongitudinal extension oftheplate.; An arm is mounted onthe stud-32 and the upper part ofthe plate 33 is connected thereto. Seeuret'l'vto the upper horizontal-extension 35 ofthe arm 35 is a tubular elemcntl37 adapted* for the reception of the handle endof .a bat 38. A cord 39 is Aattached to the upper part the arm 35 and when the same is pulled, thearm 325, carrying bat 38 is Ainov'edrearwardly Yand when Ireleased, the spring, 33V fun'ctionsto return it 'to its normal positionQ K y y B'y means ofthe Vcord y39 the bat384 isoscillated or' swung' to get'faline on the ball delivcredp fromthe pitcher and the operator upon getting the"prop`er' focus on the ball, releases the cordiand the bat isswungi in an endeavor to hitthe ball in imitation of the battingjmovement employed/in the ordinary game oibaseball. i y `The oscillating arms 2.4 and 35 carrying` the ba-ll andl batare yi'elidabl'y maintained in their normal position asbefore stated, by the springs 25 and33` and the oscillating movenient in both directions is limited by means ,of the stationary stop projections 40 and 41 formed on the upper curvededge' of angle pilates 21 kand 3l".V l

The plate V31'lis formed'xwith atong'uey; engageabl'e `with the keeper t to hold the body portion of the batter stationary. y

'They basemen 4t2 are duplicates and a description of one will suli'ce.V `Each baseman is stamped out of sheet metall` and is formed With a base supporti nn' flange 43 by means of which itis supported in position at the proper base. 4

In the operation ott-he invention, the pitcher, batter andthe ballintercepting device are stationarily aliixedto' the board by engaging the'tonfrues on their respective body portions with their related-V keepers; the tongues and lteepersthus affording; a means whereby these members will be securely held against movement relatively to the board. Thebaselnen pieces are loosely set in place on the board Iin their respective positions ,',being unattached to the board so'that they may topple over in event they should be struck with the ball With such Vtorce or in such manner as to upset them during course ofthe play. One player of the game'tales a position' to manipulatethe cordf for actuating: the pitcher and the other player is positioned tb manipulate the cord for actuating' the batter. In playingA the gaine, a bal-lE is placed in the pocket 28 andis projectedtowztrd'the batter byretracting the arm 24 in opposition to the spring 25 by pulling on the cord 29 and then suddenly re'llea'snii;i Atlie'ord so as to cause the spring 25 to advance the arm and thereby i'in'pet theball on the arm impacting against the stop 10,` ,The batting player then endeavors'to 'cause' the bat 38 to strike the ball, which is eil'ectedby retrating.theyarmfr in @Presti-ioni@ the Sri'ifiabr'rullina Q11.- the cord 39 andlsuddenily .releasingit,v asbefor'e described.'r It thel ball isy thuss trucllr,` itanay be considered eithera fair biallforf cording' tothe usual rulesofabase game.i If a fair ballis struck itiyvilllfentitle-the batting' player to a sore,` unless it l, should knock overa basenjian in Whichncvent it*l would consideredan` out. InA eventfthexbat uw. han a 'Seite 'w'pula `te` @denti-,alette bau entered the opening thewball intercepting device, but should the ball-I miss the opening the play would befcountedas a ball', 'Inorder to insure thepossibilityot;thebat striking' the ball, and alsoinsurethe'ballybeiirgoecasionally directed through thel opening in the ball interceptingdevice; the opening; in the latter and the bat are 1positioned,onthe normal line of travel ofthe bal-l, and; the'. ball impellinzg armQl with the pocletQS arearranged in such relation to thefbat a-nd opening that under the urge of the springg'f properly tensioned,l the ball i 4willl ordinarily trayerse a li-ne of travel lleadingfto the openinginthe ball intercep'ting device a din which, the is-in terposedA i Although Ihave herein illustrated anddfescribed only one forni of' apparatusembbdying myinvention, itis' to be understoodthat various changesfand modifications mayy be made e thereto Without departingjfron the spirit and'scope ofthe appended'.clai1ns, Q i lYhat Iclaimvis;f y, j l

1. In a. game apparatus,a board,1a1; itcher embodying al plate formedi to i represent a miniature baseball player, alreeper'onsai'd board, a tongue on said; plate engagea-ble with saidleeper to detachably .securesaid plate stationary on saidboard,averticallyswinging arm pivoted on said plate, aj ball-receiving pocket mounted `on the' arn'lo sprin'gmeans for actuating' the arm to throyv the ball .from the said pocket, a cord-,attached ltowsaid'arm adapted to be manually pulled-'to retraetsaid arm in opposition to said 'spring and a stop on said plate for limiting` forward movement Oi'.-saidarm.` 'i l i l" l 2.v In a basel ball .gameapparatusaboard basemen eachf having `a supporting` tlangeto seat looselywon said boardy mechanical pitcher having I a `verticallyI svyfinpzing'farm and a ball-receiving;f pocket connected thereto, a spring. on, said pitcher yoperablei to .advance said arm, a-cordwconneetingf,ivithwsaid .arm

Operable to effect retraction ofthe arm in 0pers 0n said board and means on the pitcher, position to the spring, a mechanical batter, batter and ballintercepting means detachably having an oscillating bat, a spring carried and stationarily engageable with said keep- 10 by said batter for advancing said bat, a. cord ers in their respective positions.

operable to retract the bat in opposition to In testimony whereof I have affixed my the spring, means for intercepting the ball signature.

arranged adjacent the batter, a series of keep- MICHAEL J. LOWRY. 

